Showing posts with label whitewater paddling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label whitewater paddling. Show all posts

Friday, July 26, 2013

Minnesota Whitewater
Minnesota Whitewater Canoeing

Hard Water Sports is the source for whitewater canoeing in Minnesota.  Whitewater canoe rental, and training to get paddlers off the flat water.

The above photo is of canoeist Scott McKell surfing railroad hole on the Vermillion River in Hastings Minnesota.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Open Canoeing - I Believe...



“Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing.”
Henry David Thoreau

Photo credit to Jack Kukowski, canoeist on the Montreal River, on the Wisconsin - U.P. boarder.

Photo credit to Jack Kukowski, canoeist on the Montresa


Friday, January 25, 2013

American Canoe Association - Top 10 Safety Tips


Planning to Paddle? Know Your Limits!
 American Canoe Association Top 10 Safety Tips
When getting ready to head out on your next paddling trip, be sure to keep these five safety tips in mind to ensure you have an enjoyable time on the water.
1. Take an on-water Course - whether it's a safety or skill development course, an ACA on-water instruction course provides the information you need for canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, rafting or safety & rescue.
2.  Wear Your Lifejacket - Expect to capsize and swim occasionally when paddling a canoe, kayak, SUP or raft? Learn more about PFDs and how they might just save your life.
3. Cold Water Safety - Cold water is extremely dangerous! Learn more about protecting yourself in this environment
4. Rules of the Road - What paddlers need to know when sharing the waterways
5. Safety Check - Safety tips you need to consider the next time you head out on the water

In addition to the "Top Five" here are 5 more to round out the "Top Ten"!
6. Practices, Ethics and Conduct - Key points on how to appropriately share, and enjoy our natural paddling resources
7. Know Your Limits - Good things to contemplate before you leave shore
8. River Paddler's Guide to Rescue - The basics, just in case...
10. Trip Preparation and Planning - Getting ready to schedule your next trip? Learn more useful tips


Saturday, January 5, 2013

Live the Life of Your Dreams - Whitewater Canoeing

"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." 

Oprah Winfrey




Live the Life of Your Dreams

The Northern Open Canoe Access Project provides the...
Training
Inspiration
and Equipment

If your dream is to paddle an open canoe on whitewater rivers,

 NOCAP can make it happen.









Friday, January 4, 2013

Whitewater Canoeing Classes


Whitewater Canoeing Classes

Get the Training
The fastest way to get into the sport of whitewater canoeing is to take a course from a professional American Canoe Association (ACA) instructor.  
Canoe U 2013 Courses - 
The Rapid Riders Paddling Club has classes for canoeist and kayakers  First class is in a pool, following classes are on area rivers. (water levels determine where classes will be held)
May 5 - Intro Classroom & Pool Session  
May 18 & 19  - Canoe-U Weekend  
June 1 & 2  - Graduation Weekend

ACA Open Canoe Multi-Level Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW)
University of Duluth Minnesota
Introduction to Canoe Tandem & Solo: June 23-24 9am-9pm 
Other Essentials & River Canoe: June 24-25 9am-9pm 
Tandem Whitewater Canoe: June 26-27 9am-9pm 
Solo Whitewater Canoe: June 28 9am-6pm 

Course Overviews



Monday, December 24, 2012

The Whitewater Canoe


The Whitewater Open Canoe
Standard whitewater river canoe length 8’- 14’


Hull material :
  • Royalex (Probe, Viper, Outrage, Ocoee)  
  • Royalite, (Spark )
  • Polyethilene (Spanish Fly, L’Edge)

A standard feature of a whitewater canoe is a rockered (non-flat) bottom, allowing the boat to make quick turns.
Outfitted with a saddle, foot pegs, and knee straps - all designed to hold the paddler into the boat.


Whitewater canoes are float bag compatible, rigged to easily install float bags.

Whitewater open canoes are designed either for solo paddling or tandem paddling. The Mohawk Probe 14' can be installed with a unique saddle that can be paddled in one direction as a solo or turn around and paddle it as a tandem.

If you are new to the sport of whitewater canoeing, you will find that your skills progress at a faster rate if you start in a longer boat (11' -13')
Once you are proficient with your stokes and braces then you can move to a shorter canoe.




 

If you are a Northern canoeist looking to make the move to whitewater ...
please contact me at HardWaterSports@gamil.com
The Northern Open Canoe Access Project (NOCAP) aims to connect paddlers with the Training, the Inspiration, and the Equipment.
If you need access to the Equipment - contact HardWaterSports@gamil.com  
So, What are you waiting for??




Friday, December 21, 2012

Essential Gear for Whitewater Canoeing


Essential Gear for WW Canoeing
To paddle whitewater rivers in an open canoe you really only need 5 pieces of equipment.
1. Canoe
2. Paddle
3. PFD (personal floatation device)
4. Helmet
5. Float Bags
That’s it.  Once you’ve acquired these 5 essential pieces of equipment you’re ready to get on the river.  In the following weeks I will be adding details and personal opinions on each piece of the essential whitewater canoeing  gear list, plus I will be writing about the other gear used by river paddlers (i.e. cold water clothing, throw bags, dry storage…)
I will also be adding links to where you can get deals on new and used paddling equipment.  
Of course, the gear is the easy part.  Anybody can go out and purchase equipment, it’s the skills and the desire that that can’t be bought.  The desire comes from within, the skills come from training and education.  Keep checking back, I’ll be writing about your options for gaining the skills to start river paddling.  I will also do my best to inspire and create the desire to move you from the flat to the white.
Are you open to the challenge of open canoe whitewater paddling?


The Northern Open Canoe Access Project provides ...
the Training
the Inspiration
and the Equipment

to get you paddling a canoe on whitewater.




Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Open Canoeist Surfing Hell's Gate on the Kettle River


Open Canoeist, Dave Jurgenson surfing Hell’s Gate on the Kettle River.  One of Minnesota’s most accessible whitewater rivers, the whitewater section of the Kettle River is located in Banning State Park.  
The two and a half mile run includes four class III rapids and some of the best river surfing in the midwest.  The river is designated “scenic and wild” - Access the whitewater section in Banning State Park, three miles later, take out at Robinson Park in Sandstone, Minnesota.

The Northern Open Canoe Access Project 
connects paddlers to the Training, the Access, and the Equipment.


Monday, December 10, 2012


Northern Open Canoe Access Project
Northern Open Canoe Access Project, (NOCAP) helping to convert flat water paddlers into whitewater canoeist.
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the UP have amazing whitewater rivers of all grades, and there are very few paddlers who are enjoying them.  
Nearly 100,000 paddlers visit the Boundary Water Canoe Area (BWCA) every year. A small percentage of these canoeist crave to make the transition to moving water, these few want to learn the skills to have the ability to safely paddle whitewater.
The Northern Open Canoe Access Project aims to connect experienced flat water canoe paddlers with the equipment and the training to safely paddle on moving water.